Stakeholders analysis in project management

Stakeholder analysis is one of the phases of the analysis phase carried out in the PCM methodology. This stage examines the existing situation, to develop a vision of the desired situation in the future and to choose appropriate strategies that will help achieve project goals.

The analysis phase consists of 4 elements:

Stakeholder identification

Problem analysis (image of reality)

Analysis of objectives (picture of the situation in the future).

Analysis of the strategy (comparison of different options to address a given situation)

Stakeholders are all the people, groups, institutions or companies that may have stake in the project. They can directly or indirectly, positively or negatively influence or be influenced by the developments and outcomes of projects or programs. Often during the analysis, managers divide them into different subgroups.

Stakeholder analysis involves the identification of all stakeholder groups, which may affect (positively or negatively) the project, the identification and analysis of their interests, problems and potential to influence project outcomes, etc. Tells us who the project will directly address, and determines how to affect a specific person. The findings from the analysis are then considered in the design of the project. It is important that stakeholder analysis take place at an early stage in the project identification phase during the initial assessment of the project.

In ideal projects, stakeholder analysis can be performed during the planning workshop, in which take part representatives of the main stakeholders.